UK push for a carbon resilient Kolkata

KOLKATA: The spurt in construction of buildings in Kolkata is a timely opportunity to start the transformation of the city’s economy from a high carbon path to a sustainable low carbon one, feels British junior minister (energy and climate change) Sandeep Verma.

“I have seen dramatic changes happen to the city. There is a lot of construction happening here. It is a great opportunity for the city to adopt a green growth strategy and ensure that energy efficient buildings are constructed. India (and Bengal) is on a high growth trajectory with 70% of infrastructure yet to be put up,” said the Baroness who first visited Kolkata during her honeymoon in 1977 and twice subsequently.

Though she is on a personal visit this time as well, Verma took time out to interact with CII members on July 7 and urged upon them the need to embrace renewables in a major way. “Schools and hospitals are two institutions where solar panels should be installed so that they can run entirely on solar power,” she said.

The UK government has already announced a £1 million programme to help the state adopt green and sustainable growth. During British PM David Cameron’s visit last November, the UK government and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had signed an MoU to mainstream climate change within KMC policies and strategies.

Greg Barker, the minister of state for climate change and energy, who had accompanied Cameron during the trip, visited again in February and announced the £1 million funding for the initiative.

“UK will help the KMC prepare a roadmap for low-carbon, carbon-resilient Kolkata; organize sensitization programmes and strengthen the institutional capacity of KMC so that it can implement the roadmap, improve governance and respond to climate change challenges,” said British deputy high commissioner Scott Furssedonn-Wood.

While the sensitization programme for councillors, MLAs and MPs through use of special tool kits is expected to commence within a month, a team led by renewable energy expert SP Gon Chowdhury is working on a policy and regulatory framework for grid connected rooftop solar so that Kolkata can introduce the concept of net metering.

According to sources, the initiative is aimed at giving a boost to renewable energy by providing incentives to homes and institutions to install rooftop solar panels and generate a portion of its total energy requirement. When the solar energy generation is more than that required in the building, it will have the ability to push the electricity into the grid.

Latest Realty News

KOLKATA: Keppel Land, a Singapore-based real estate firm that invested in Bengal's booming real estate sector just before trouble erupted over land acquisition in Singur and Nandigram in mid-2006, exited the state on Tuesday after being frustrated by lack of growth options and surmounting local complications. A consortium of local developers have grabbed the rare opportunity of a land parcel in New Town and struck the deal for Rs 150 crore.

Nine years after it was formed, New York-based Brahma Management has lined up big investments for the Indian real estate market . Brahma, an FDI-funded investment and asset management company, has already invested around Rs 2,500 crore in the sector and has plans to put in another Rs 3,000 crore over the next two years.

KOLKATA: With the state secretariat now shifted to Nabanna in Howrah, the district is getting more importance. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee wants overall infrastructure development of the district including having more routes for JNNURM buses, giving more permits to no-refusal taxis and implementing the ongoing development projects fast.

KOLKATA: Want a property tax waiver for 2014-15? Paint your house or apartment building white-and-blue. Yes, you've read it right. The proposal, which has mayor Sovan Chatterjee's blessings, was accepted in the mayor-in-council meeting on Monday.

KOLKATA: Constructing a house in areas off the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass is set to pinch you more. Apart from paying the building sanction fee to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), you will now have to pay a development fee to the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA).

KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today conducted searches at the premises of the Rose Valley group in Kolkata in connection with a money laundering case against the real estate firm for allegedly raising illegal funds.